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Carol Beesley, then and now : work from 40 years : East Gallery, February 20-April 22, 2012.

Carol Beesley East Gallery - February 20 - April 22, 2012
file:////maindc/users/gphillips/PDFs%2067/Capitol%20Art/Carol_Beesley_East_Gallery_2012.html[9/28/2012 2:44:30 PM]
Carol Beesley Photo by Shevaun Williams
Untitled by Carol Beesley
Untitled by Carol Beesley
Carol Beesley
Then and Now: Work from 40 years
East Gallery - February 20 - April 22, 2012
Carol Beesley has been fascinated by the American
landscape all of her life, and she is well-known for her
flamboyant paintings that honor the scenery. With hues of
pink, chartreuse, and turquoise, the landscape is
enlivened on her canvas. She says she's always loved
bright colors as well as the descriptions of landscapes in
books and the images on old postcards. Yet, she's never
painted a place that she hasn't visited herself. "These
paintings are notations of what is seen in a mix with the
imagination. I try to get the heart of the place and just
express my experience of it," says the artist. Similar to
postcards which capture the nostalgic intensity of seeing
the Grand Canyon in person, Beesley sees her paintings
in the same way. "My paintings are, in a sense, an
extension of the experience people have. It is heightened
and more intense when you remember it. And, I want
people to be joyous when they see my paintings."
While drawing her landscape compositions, Beesley
stays true and representational to the subject. It is
with color that she pays homage to the subject matter.
"I do the color that really heightens and represents my
experience and love of what I'm painting. The colors
really reflect my personality most of the time. I've
never been able to work if I'm upset or depressed."
Beesley's style is strikingly recognizable. It is with
sensitivity that she captures the formations of rocks
like a portrait artist captures the folds of a face. The
endless shades of blue that can only be found in an
Oklahoma sky dance on the canvas. One can almost
feel the warmth emitting from the rocks baking in the
sun of the west. And as fantastical as the images may seem, the familiarity is inescapable
for anyone who has visited the western United States.
"The paintings in this exhibition reflect my life in
art in Oklahoma, my years in New Mexico and
my return to Oklahoma in 2009," says Beesley.
"At least half of these works have been borrowed
from friends and family, all lovers of art. I am
extremely grateful to these supporters for giving
my work destinations and homes. I always want
viewers to enjoy the colorful, heightened vision
of the real places depicted and to know the place
'for the first time' when encountered.
Beesley taught art at the University of Oklahoma
for 24 years before moving to Santa Fe, New
Mexico, in 1997. She lived there for 12 years before University of Oklahoma President David
Boren commissioned her to create artwork for the Schusterman Learning Center on the
Tulsa campus of OU. She began traveling back and forth between Oklahoma and New
Capitol Exhibitions
The Capitol is home to four art
galleries, exhibiting works of
current and past Oklahoma
artists.
East Gallery
North Gallery
Governor's Gallery
Betty Price Gallery
About the East Gallery
Located on the first floor of the
Capitol, the East Gallery
features paintings and mixed
media works by current
Oklahoma artists. Exhibits rotate
approximately every 60 days.
Hours:
Weekdays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Weekends 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (use
west entrance)
The East Gallery is curated by
the Oklahoma Arts Council. For
more information contact Alyson
Moses at 405.521.2931 or
alyson.moses@arts.ok.gov.
Past East Gallery Exhibitions
Selection of Artists for
Exhibition
Upcoming East Gallery
Exhibits
Pamela Husky (Stigler)
December 10, 2012 -
February 10, 2013
Regina Murphy (Oklahoma
City)
February 10 - December 10,
2012
Gina Dowling (Norman)
About Us Our Programs Grants Arts in Schools Arts in Communities Art at the Capitol Art Networks
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Carol Beesley East Gallery - February 20 - April 22, 2012
file:////maindc/users/gphillips/PDFs%2067/Capitol%20Art/Carol_Beesley_East_Gallery_2012.html[9/28/2012 2:44:30 PM]
Carol Beesley Photo by Shevaun Williams
Untitled by Carol Beesley
Untitled by Carol Beesley
Carol Beesley
Then and Now: Work from 40 years
East Gallery - February 20 - April 22, 2012
Carol Beesley has been fascinated by the American
landscape all of her life, and she is well-known for her
flamboyant paintings that honor the scenery. With hues of
pink, chartreuse, and turquoise, the landscape is
enlivened on her canvas. She says she's always loved
bright colors as well as the descriptions of landscapes in
books and the images on old postcards. Yet, she's never
painted a place that she hasn't visited herself. "These
paintings are notations of what is seen in a mix with the
imagination. I try to get the heart of the place and just
express my experience of it," says the artist. Similar to
postcards which capture the nostalgic intensity of seeing
the Grand Canyon in person, Beesley sees her paintings
in the same way. "My paintings are, in a sense, an
extension of the experience people have. It is heightened
and more intense when you remember it. And, I want
people to be joyous when they see my paintings."
While drawing her landscape compositions, Beesley
stays true and representational to the subject. It is
with color that she pays homage to the subject matter.
"I do the color that really heightens and represents my
experience and love of what I'm painting. The colors
really reflect my personality most of the time. I've
never been able to work if I'm upset or depressed."
Beesley's style is strikingly recognizable. It is with
sensitivity that she captures the formations of rocks
like a portrait artist captures the folds of a face. The
endless shades of blue that can only be found in an
Oklahoma sky dance on the canvas. One can almost
feel the warmth emitting from the rocks baking in the
sun of the west. And as fantastical as the images may seem, the familiarity is inescapable
for anyone who has visited the western United States.
"The paintings in this exhibition reflect my life in
art in Oklahoma, my years in New Mexico and
my return to Oklahoma in 2009," says Beesley.
"At least half of these works have been borrowed
from friends and family, all lovers of art. I am
extremely grateful to these supporters for giving
my work destinations and homes. I always want
viewers to enjoy the colorful, heightened vision
of the real places depicted and to know the place
'for the first time' when encountered.
Beesley taught art at the University of Oklahoma
for 24 years before moving to Santa Fe, New
Mexico, in 1997. She lived there for 12 years before University of Oklahoma President David
Boren commissioned her to create artwork for the Schusterman Learning Center on the
Tulsa campus of OU. She began traveling back and forth between Oklahoma and New
Capitol Exhibitions
The Capitol is home to four art
galleries, exhibiting works of
current and past Oklahoma
artists.
East Gallery
North Gallery
Governor's Gallery
Betty Price Gallery
About the East Gallery
Located on the first floor of the
Capitol, the East Gallery
features paintings and mixed
media works by current
Oklahoma artists. Exhibits rotate
approximately every 60 days.
Hours:
Weekdays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Weekends 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (use
west entrance)
The East Gallery is curated by
the Oklahoma Arts Council. For
more information contact Alyson
Moses at 405.521.2931 or
alyson.moses@arts.ok.gov.
Past East Gallery Exhibitions
Selection of Artists for
Exhibition
Upcoming East Gallery
Exhibits
Pamela Husky (Stigler)
December 10, 2012 -
February 10, 2013
Regina Murphy (Oklahoma
City)
February 10 - December 10,
2012
Gina Dowling (Norman)
About Us Our Programs Grants Arts in Schools Arts in Communities Art at the Capitol Art Networks
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